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Kenyan breaks Deek's Aust record

Rob de Castella was among the first to congratulate Silah Limo when the unheralded Kenyan broke his record for the fastest marathon run in Australia which stood for almost 32 years.

The 22-year-old Limo clocked two hours nine minutes and 14 seconds in winning the Gold Coast Airport Marathon on Sunday, shaving four seconds off the Australian allcomers record which de Castella set at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.

He then declared he could go at least three minutes quicker.

"I feel so happy because I have run my best in my first race on the Gold Coast," said Limo, who kicked clear at about the 30km mark.

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"I was aiming to run 2:10. That was my hope today. I tried to push and push.

"I felt that is great for my first time but if there were pace makers, I think I can go 2:06."

De Castella was on hand to see his record broken as a race ambassador.

"I'm probably disappointed that it has taken so long," de Castella said. "It was time.

"It is significant for the Gold Coast, because now it is officially the fastest course in Australia.

"We always knew the course here was quick but now we have the time to prove it."

The world record of 2:03:23 is held by another Kenyan, Wilson Kipsang, run at the Berlin marathon last year.

Organisers had forecast that records would fall on the Gold Coast, but no one tipped Limo to do it.

It was expected to be a duel between the event's equal course record holders, Japan's Yuki Kawauchi and Kenya's Nicholas Manza.

But Kawauchi finished third in 2:11:27 behind second-placed American Jeffrey Eggleston while Manza failed to finish.

Limo collected $35,000 - $15,000 for the race win and $20,000 for breaking the all-comers record.

Japan's Asami Kato won the women's race in a brisk 2:28:51 from countrywoman Rika Shintaku (2:30:37) with Ethiopian Tsehay Desalegn Adhana third in 2:31:41.

"This was my first time for this race and I am very happy because it was a PB for me," said Kato, whose previous best had been a 2:29:08.

The first Australian to finish the marathon was 44-year-old ACT policeman Rowan Walker, who is now the Australian marathon champion after placing 11th in 2:21:47.

The first Australian woman was Victoria's Tarli Bird (2:43:58), who finished in eighth on debut.